Electric animal-prod.



W. B. FLOYD.

ELECTRIC ANIMAL PROD. APPLlcATIoN FILED 05u15, |913A Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

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WILLIAM BOYD FLOYD, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY C. HERMSMEYER, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

ELECTRIC ANIMAL-PROD.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM B. FLOYD, citizen of the United States, residing at Fort lVorth, in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Animal- Prods, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to electric animal prods and has for its object the production of a simple and elficient instrument which may be used for prodding animals without injuring the fiesh or hide of the animal.

Another object of the invention is the production of a prod which is simple in construction, efficient in operation, and consists of a minimum number of parts.

With the above and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel combinations, constructions, and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings :hFigure 1 is a perspective view of the prod. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3 3, of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4, of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5 5, of Fig. 2.

By referring to the drawings it will be seen that 1 designates the handle which is preferably formed of insulating material, and this handle carries a threaded cap 2 for the purpose of closing the rear end of the handle and holding the electric batteries 3 in their proper position. The batteries 3 are positioned Within the handle 1 and are preferably dry batteries, being held in series as illustrated in Fig. 2. A closure plug 4 is carried by the handle 1 and this closure plug 4 carries a circuit closing button 5, which button is supported upon a spring contact member 6, which spring Contact member is secured to the handle 1. An auxiliary contact member 7 is carried by the handle 1 and is connected to one of the terminals 8 of the batteries 3. The spring contact member 6 is connected to one of the terminals 9 of the spark coil 10 and the other terminal 8 of the batteries 3 is connected to one of the terminals 11 of the spark coil 10.

A hollow casing 12 is employed in connection with the handle 1 and comprises an enlarged rear end 13, which rear end is pro- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

vided with an inturned edge 14 adapted to be engaged by the locking springs 15 carried by the handle 1. It will, therefore, be seen that the springs 15 will constitute an etlicient means for ho'lding the casing 12 in engagement with the handle 1. The enlarged end 13 of the casing 12 carries a bridge portion 16 which is secured to the casing by means ofscrews 17. This bridge portion 16 coni stitutes an eiiicient support for the spark coil 10 above described.

The casing 12 carries an insulating plug 18 at its forward end, which insulating plug may be made of fiber or any other suitable material and carries a pair of angle Contact members 19. These Contact members 19 are connected to the conducting wires 20, which conducting wires 20 pass longitudinally of the casing 12 and are connected to the forward terminals 21 of the spark coil 10.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a very eiiicient and simple means has been produced for prodding animals without injuring the hide or flesh of the animal, thereby producing a very humane instrument for accomplishing the desired purpose.

It has been found through actual experience that where the ordinary steel spike is used for prodding the hide and flesh of the animal, the animal is exposed to poison from the dipping vats into the animals body, but by use of the present device it should be understood that the animal is in no way injured.

Of course, it should be understood that the invention may be modified as to its detail mechanical constructions without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the device may be put to any use desired without departing from the spirit of the invention.

As illustrated in Fig. 5 the insulating cap 18 may contain fibrous material such as indicated at 21 for the purpose of producing an insulation between the several contact points 19.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

1. An animal prod of the class described comprising an elongated body, contact points carried at one end of said body, a handle, said body provided with an enlarged portion near its rear end, said enlarged portion provided with an inwardly beveled rim,

springs carried by said handle, said springs engaging said inwardly turned rim and constituting a detachable securing member for holding said handle in engagement with said body portion, and electrical supply means carried within said handle and communicating with said contact points for furnishing a `current through said contact points when said Contact points are brought into engagement with an animal.

2. A device of the class described comprising an elongated body, contact points carried by one end of said body, a supporting bridge carried by said body, a spark coil carried by said supporting bridge, a detachable handle, said body provided with an enlarged portionv at its rear end constituting a socket, an inwardly extending beveled L; ,t Bange-carried by said body, springs carried by said handle and having their ends engaging said beveled flange for detachably holding said handle in engagement with said body portion whereby said handle may be readily drawn out of engagement with said body and placed into engagement therewith, electrical supply means carried by said handle and communicating with said spark coil, and means forming an electrical connection between said spark coil and contact points.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM BOYD FLOYD. Witnesses:

CLAUDE F. HALL, LEE H. LY'rToN. 

